You don’t have to look far to find one of the last remaining pieces of undeveloped land around the soccer stadium. In fact it’s almost as big as Miracle-Gro Field’s entire footprint. And right next door.
And even though Josh Glessing, the former Haslam Sports Group development official who helped keep the Crew in Columbus, said remaining land should have “the highest and best use,” this remaining piece, at almost 10 acres, may not even be in play.
Martin Savko, 69, chairman of the Savko and Sons, Inc., construction firm, has owned the land adjacent and just east of the stadium site since the mid-1990s, long before the Crew played soccer Downtown. At the time, he quickly struck a deal with a Florida-based CSX Railroad executive, after learning that he was a Northland High School graduate.
Savko had been leasing the site for storage when he found common ground, and trust, in the offer to buy it. Savko graduated from Bishop Watterson High School.
As a lifelong Columbus Clippers fan, Savko said “I’ve allowed some of the Columbus Clippers to park their cars there. Both fans and staff. They’ve been using it for years.”
Also a self-described innovator, Savko said he’s considering building a manufacturing plant on the land to produce a new building materials additive to help the longevity, durability and performance of construction. Proximity to the live CSX tracks that border his property would help production. He declined to detail what the additive is, saying only it is being used in Europe and he had recently spoken with a Paris group about it.
“The reason it’s attractive is I own it free and clear and it’s zoned industrial,” said Savko of the property.
Nationwide Realty Investors (NRI) and others have long sought the property. At least one plan called for the land to become greenspace or parkland.
NRI earlier this year purchased 13 acres of CSX land near the Savko site.
Savko said he’s open to all kinds of ideas and offers. He said his plan isn’t “etched in stone,” just being mulled over. He said he won’t be bullied into handing over the land.
Mary Shepro, who is the Crew’s current head of business operations, said she’s aware of Savko but has “no idea about his plans.”
“You can’t really see it,” she said of the property, which has a thick hedgerow partially obscuring it from Miracle-Gro field view.
“I don’t know if the city or someone else has plans for it. But we really haven’t interacted with him (Savko), other than to ensure, from a pedestrian safety perspective, that the lot is managed in such a way that with everyone walking down, there are no issues with our fans.”
Glessing referred questions to NRI and developers.
Savko said he’s proud of his company’s long history in Columbus and open to ideas.
“I respect the Pizzutis and NRI. I respect them all. I hold them in high esteem. I also own a piece of property there that I’m not doing anything with,” Savko said.
Neither NRI nor Pizzuti immediately responded to Dispatch requests to be interviewed for this story.
Growth and development reporter Dean Narciso can be reached at dnarciso@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Undeveloped site near Scotts Miracl-Gro Field holds uncertain future
Reporting by Dean Narciso, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Dean Narciso, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
